Article holding devices controlled by shock



June 7, 1960 o. L. A. DRIVER v2,939,558

ARTICLE HOLDING'DEVICES CONTROLLED BY snocx Filed June 1, 1956 D.L.A.DRI ER United St -ES Patent ARTICLE HOLDING DEVICES CONTROLLED BY SHOCKDouglas LouisAshton Driver, London, England, assignor to InternationalStandard Electric'Corporation, New n York, N.Y., a corporation ofDelaware Filed June 1, 1956, Ser. No. 588,856

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 24, 1955 *4 claims. (Cl.248316) This invention relates to locking devices controlled by shock.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is which prevents thetelephone being dislodged by the shock caused by a salvo fired from theship, or by the explosion of a depth-charge near the ship which does,not impair the use of the telephone at other times.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which: 7 7

Figs. 1A and 1B are sectional plan views of two forms of mounting forhand telephones in accordance with-the invention,

Figs. 2, 3 are elevational views of the two devices Figs. 1A and 1B. 7

The device shown in Fig. 1A and .each spring to be adjustedindividually. The locking in 2 comprises, a locking member 1 suspendedby two pairs of helical j 2,939,668 Patented June 7,

The telephone 15 however is not rigidly attached to the framework4 andthere may be a tendency to relative movement between the telephone andthe framework under shock, resulting in displacement of the clip 12'andthe disc-8. It is' therefore essential to ensure that the locking member1 traps the disc 8 in the recess 7 bebore the disc 8 has been able toenter the bore 6. This can'be achieved ifthedifierence in diameter ofthc' disc 8 and thebore '6fis small and less than the difference betweenthe thickness of the disc 8 and the depth of the recess7.

When the shock has passed the locking member 1 andithe'rod 9 resumetheir original relative positions, so

than-the disc 8 is tree-to move down the bore 6.

T The'device so far described will respond to any shock whichdisplaces'the locking member -1 in any direction in the-plane inwhich-the locking member is free to move. The device, however, will notrespond to a shock perpendicular to this plane. A second identicaldevice-is therefore provided so as to be responsive to shock indirection; The two devices at right angles to each other are togetherresponsive to shock from any direction. a The poistion of the seconddevice is shown in ,Fig; 1B; Each device'controls one clip 12 of a pairV to provide a mounting fora telephone on' board a ship I of clips, bothof which must be displaced to permit removal of the telephone. The twodevices together, therefore, constitute apparatus which holds thetelephone 15 .in position during shock from any direction.

I as before, a bore 6 and a recess 7, as supported within member 1 has ahollow cylindrical bore 6, the diameter of which is enlarged at one endto form a recess 7. A disc 8, normally housed in therecess 7 and havinga diameter slightly less than that of the bore 6, is carried which clipsnust be displaced, as shown by dottedlines,

to removethehandmicrotelephohe When the telephone 15 is removed, the 12dis- I placed against the action of the spring 11 and the disc 8,travels down the bore 6. I The required alignment is obtained by meansof the adjusting screws 5 ofthe springs 2. Suppose, now, that thestructure (e.g. a ship), to which the framework 4 is attached, is sub-.mitted to shock when the telephone 15 is in, the'position shown in Fig.l. The structure and the framework 4 move under the influence of theshock. The locking member 1 remains stationary due to its inertia andthe accommodating action of the springs 2. The resulting movement of thelocking member 1 relative to the rod 9, places the bore 6 out ofalignment with the disc 8 which is consequently held captive in therecess 7 and prevents displacement of the clip 12.

' ventiom a cylindrical drum 16 by a coiled spring 22. The coil istapered towards its middle portion where contact is made with thelocking member 1. A rod 9, carrying, as

before, a disc 8, is capable of axial movement in a hole in theframework 4 and in a hole in a plate 17. A compression spring 11 ishoused within the bore 6. The

- plate 17 is secured to the framework 4 by'screws 18 which engage holestapped in the framework 4. Two flange members 19, 20-provideend-seatings for the drum 16fand have holes 21 which are a loose fitaround the screws 18. The flange member 20 is extended centrally toprovide a sliding surface for the locking member 1. Alignment of thebore 6 and the disc 8 is obtained by means of the play in the holes 21.When alignment has been secured, the screws 18 are tightened home. Thedevice operates in the same way as the device already described,thecoiled spring 22 acting in place of the pairs of springs 2. The devicecan also be used in pairs to provide apparatus responsive to shock inany direction.

While the principles of the invention have been described above inconnection with specific embodiments,

and particular modifications thereof, it is to be clearly understoodthat this description is made only by way, of example and not asalimitation on the scope of the in What is claimed is: I I r 1.Apparatus for retaining a movable object during shock comprising amovable latch element, a pair of movable members, each movable indirections normal to normally retains said object in a fixed position,and

means coupled to the other of said members :fOl' normally maintainingthe locking portion of said second member out of cooperationwith thelocking portion of 7 said first member whereby said latch element maynormally be moved to unlatch said object but which, during :;ment ofsaid latch element.

- Apparatus for retaining a movable object as claimed in, claim 1,further comprising a fixed frame having a pair of parallel arms, saids'econd member positioned intermediate said arms, said first membermovable in .directions transversely of said arms.

3. Apparatus for retaining .a movable object during shock comprising afixed frame having two pairs of parallel arms, the arms of one pairbeing at right angles to the arms of the other ,pair, a pair of movablelatch elements coupled to said arm pairs, respectively, for normallyretaining said movable. object in a fixed position, a pair of springloaded rods, each operatively associated with a difierent one of saidlatch elements for normally urging said elements into retainingengagement with said object, each of said rods adapted to move indirections normal to the arms of said frame Withwhich it is associated,said rods having a first locking portion and normally being movable whenit is desired to remove said object from said fixed position, a pair orlocking members, each associated with a different pair of the arms ofsaid frame, each said locking member adapted to move in directionsparallel to the arms or said frame with which it is associated, each ofsaid locking members having a second locking portion substantiallycomplementary to the first locking portion associated with said rods,resilient means for normalliy maintaining out of engagement the lockingportions of said rods and said locking members whereby said latchelements may be unlatched to permit said object to be moved from saidfixed position, either of said locking 'me'inb'ers adapted, when movedin either direction parallel to the arms of said frame with wln'ch it isassociated, in response to shock, to prevent movement of the associated"rod.

4. Apparatus for retaining a movable object as claimed in claim 3,wherein said second movable member comprises a block having acylindrical bore and a circular recess in said block having a diametergreater than the diameter of said bore, the locking portion associatedwith said first member having a dimension slightly smaller than thediameter of said bore, the bottom of said circular recess comprisingsaid locking portion or said second member.

References Cited in the fire "of this atent UNITED STATES PATENTS

